RFQ #24-032 Soil & Material Testing

Agency:	Wake County
State:	North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541330 - Engineering Services 541380 - Testing Laboratories
Posted Date:	Apr 4, 2024
Due Date:	Apr 26, 2024
Solicitation No:	RFQ #24-032
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April 4, 2024

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

FOR

SOIL AND MATERIAL TESTING AND INSPECTION SERVICES

AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

FOR

WAKE COUNTY

FACILITIES DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

RFQ #24-032

I. Project

Wake County Facilities Design & Construction Projects.

II. Project Team

Wake County is the Owner of the projects. Design Professionals are selected in accordance with

the Wake County Board of Commissioners' Policy for Selecting Design Consultants.

III. Project Summary

Wake County Facilities Design & Construction plans and implements the Capital Improvement

Program for County departments and the Board of Commissioners. Generally, the types of

capital projects include libraries, public safety facilities, human services buildings, detention

facilities, parks, office buildings, historic building restorations, emergency communications

facilities, water and sewer projects, solid waste facilities, site development, building renovations

and major preventive maintenance projects. Design, construction work, materials testing, and

various other services are outsourced to private firms through competitive procurement methods

as allowed by NC General Statutes. Projects in this request will have a construction cost range

between $50,000 and $100 million each.

IV. Request

Wake County Government hereby requests proposals from Soil & Material Testing & Inspection

firms to provide soil and material testing and inspection services, geotechnical engineering, and

special inspections as required to assure compliance with Contract Documents for the duration of

Wake County Facilities Design & Construction projects.

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V. Consultant Qualifications

The Soil & Material Testing & Inspection firm and staff proposed to be assigned responsibilities

on these projects, must be highly qualified and have extensive experience in all aspects of soil

and material testing and inspection services, geotechnical engineering, and special inspections on

similar projects. They must also have the proven capability to effectively and efficiently work

with a project team in development and implementation of a construction quality control

program.

VI. Scope of Work

The scope of work shall include all independent soil and material testing and inspection services,

geotechnical engineering and special inspections outlined in the Quality Control Plan (refer to

Article VIII B.) and as required by the project specifications.

VII. Project Schedule

The duration of projects varies from several months to 1-2 years, depending on size, complexity

and logistical requirements. The contract documents for each project specifies the construction

period and requires the awarded contractor for each project to develop a detailed construction

schedule.

VIII. Proposal Format Requirements

All proposals shall be submitted on 8½” x 11" paper, side bound with Table of Contents and

reference tabs for key sections. The total submittal shall not exceed either twenty (20) double-

sided or forty (40) single-sided pages with text, consecutively numbered. An electronic copy

submitted on a thumb drive must also be included. Submittals must include, at a minimum, the

following:

A. Project Organization and Staffing

1. Organization/Staffing Chart listing all staff to be assigned to the Project.

2. Detailed resumes of all staff listed.

3. Description of responsibilities to be fulfilled by each assigned staff member.

4. Current and proposed weekly contract commitments of assigned staff to other

projects.

5. Listing and brief description of three representative projects completed by the firm;

provide references and phone numbers for each project; identify staff who were

involved in each project.

B. Quality Control and Documentation Plan

Respondents must describe their proposed plan for assisting the Project Team in assuring

a high standard of quality is achieved and documented. Soil and material testing and

inspection services, geotechnical engineering, and special inspections services are to be

included in the Quality Control and Documentation Plan. The following key items of

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work are also to be included in the Quality Control Plan along with any additional items

deemed appropriate by the testing and inspection consultant.

 Subsurface soil investigation and analysis

 Excavating and backfilling

 Mass earthwork and rock excavation

 Special retaining wall structures

 Pile and cap foundations

 Cast-in-place concrete construction

 Pre-cast concrete panels

 Post tension concrete slabs

 Masonry construction

 Masonry wall systems and materials

 Damp proofing and waterproofing

 Structural steel

 Metal decking

 Metal wall panels

 Fireproofing of structural steel and metal decking

 Roofing systems, flashing and sheet metal

 Hot-mixed asphalt paving, stone base and subgrade preparation

 Seismic requirements

At the conclusion of testing for each category and with the issuance of each report, a

certification by a Professional Engineer duly licensed by the State of North Carolina will

be required stating that all work or portions thereof have been tested and/or inspected and

that work conforms to the contract documents.

In accordance with Chapter 17 of the current North Carolina State Building Code, Special

Inspections shall be included in this Scope of Services. Special Inspections may consist

of inspection/testing of soils, cast-in-place concrete, masonry, structural steel, and certain

seismic requirements, to the extent defined by the Construction Documents, and as

required by local authorities having jurisdiction.

C. Consultant Professional Fees

Provide hourly rates, unit laboratory testing costs, unit prices and any other billable costs

for each service anticipated by the Firms’ proposed Quality Control Program for this

project. As these fees are to be used for the selection process only and are not associated

with any fixed price or bid, per ncbels.org they are allowed to be included.

IX. Selection of Soil & Material Testing & Inspection Firms

A. Process

Procedures similar to those followed by Wake County in the selection of design

consultants will be followed. This will ensure that the Soil & Material Testing &

Inspection firms are selected in a fair and uniform manner and have appropriate

qualifications and experience.

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The Facilities Design and Construction Director has appointed a Selection Committee

comprised of County staff. Upon receipt of proposals from respondents, Selection

Committee members will review the proposals in detail and identify (“short list”) those

firms that appear to be most qualified to provide services for the project. Separate

presentation and interview sessions will then be scheduled with the “short-listed” firms to

permit the Selection Committee to further evaluate each firm’s qualifications and

proposal. After interviews, the Selection Committee will make their selection and

provide written recommendations to the Director for his approval. Following the

Director’s approval, the Facilities Design & Construction office will be directed to

negotiate terms, conditions and fees of an agreement with each selected firm. In the

event negotiations of specific contract terms and conditions prove unsuccessful with a

selected firm, the Selection Committee will select another firm with which to begin

contract negotiations.

B. Timeline

The key activities and milestone dates for the selection process of the Soil & Material

Testing & Inspection Firms are listed below, but are subject to change as conditions

warrant:

Activity

RFQ Published and Distributed

Deadline for Respondent Questions

Proposal Submission Deadline

Selection Committee meeting to determine short list

Selection Committee presentation/interviews sessions

Firm Selection

Milestone Date

April 8, 2024

April 19, 2024

April 26, 2024

May 9, 2024*

May 22, 2024*

May 31, 2024*

*Dates are subject to change

X. Evaluation Criteria

A. The following criteria will be the basis on which firms will be selected for further

consideration:

1. Qualifications and expertise of firm’s personnel to be assigned to the Project.

2. Proposed Quality Control Plan.

3. Proposed Documentation Plan.

4. Experience and past performance on similar projects.

5. Current workload of firm’s personnel.

6. Firm’s unit rates for performing required work.

7. Compliance with Proposal format requirements.

8. Proximity to and familiarity with Wake County area.

9. Other factors that may be appropriate for the Project.

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Although required information is listed in the Proposal Format Requirements, the

selection criteria is listed above, and for evaluation purposes the proposals should

conform and match the items listed in numerical order above.

XI. Submission of Proposals

Five (5) complete packages, and (1) electronic copy on a thumb drive must be received at the

following address by noon on Friday, April 26, 2024:

To:

County of Wake,

Facilities Design & Construction

Attention: Paulo López, Facilities Project Manager

Email: paulo.lopez@wake.gov

Phone: (919) 856-6351

Mailing Address:

PO Box 550

Raleigh, NC 27602

Delivery Address:

336 Fayetteville St; Suite 1100

Raleigh, NC 27601

XII. Professional Services Agreement

The County’s Standard Form of Contract for Testing and Inspection Services will be used. The

term of the Agreement will be a five-year period. Wake County will retain the option to renew

at the end of the five-year term.

XIII. General Comments

A. Any cost incurred by respondents in preparing or submitting a proposal for the Project

shall be the respondents' sole responsibility.

B. All responses, inquiries or correspondence relating to this RFQ will become the property

of Wake County when received.

C. Any specific questions regarding the Request for Proposal should be directed to Paulo

López, Facilities Project Manager, Wake County Facilities Design & Construction

(paulo.lopez@wakegov.com). If a question of general concern is asked by any firm with

regards to this RFQ, a copy of the written response will be sent to all firms.

D. The Selection Committee intends to select multiple firms to provide soil and material

testing and inspection services, geotechnical engineering, and special inspections for

Wake County Facilities Design & Construction projects.

E. Please refer to the following website location for a copy of the Request for Qualifications

and Proposal and any other related information. If a question of general concern is asked

by any firm, an addendum will be issued to include a copy of the written response.

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RFQ #24-032 Soil & Material Testing

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